So I’ve been online DMing for about 6 years now and had several issues with finding a group that meshed well and could all actively participate without someone decided to “main character” their characters. I have been running the current campaign for three years now, and have only retained one player who was there from session 0 (he also left the group for about six months, but that’s another story). The current group consists of the one guy who has been there from the start, three guys who all know each other IRL and two others who joined later on, joining in this most recent story arc.

I’m the kind of DM that doesn’t like running a session if someone can’t make it, as I don’t want my players missing out on potential plot points, or fun story moments. I have a rule in the group that if you’re going to be late or unable to make it, to let me know as soon as you know, so we can plan an alternate activity ( usually Cards Against Humanity) or cancel the session entirely. My players regularly disregard this rule and will start off the session with “oh yeah, I won’t be here on such and such date” or “hey, I’ve got a hard out at this time” and then someone else shows up an hour late without explanation.

We’re down to the final two sessions of the story arc and I’m burned out, if it’s not the scheduling issues, it’s players coming to me afterwards and talking about how they feel like their character isn’t “being heard” when they didn’t try to even speak up when the conversations had break points. I’m seriously contemplating just telling the guys that the last session of the story arc is going to be the last session because I don’t want to deal with the bullshit this group has put me through any longer, but you know, less asshole-adjacent.